Record-low rates driving demand for lending roles

Recruitment in the banking industry “has become increasingly candidate-short”, according to new research by a global recruitment agency.

The latest Hays Quarterly Report said that major Australian banks are recruiting for lending roles predominantly on a temporary basis while international banks, non-bank lenders and small-business bankers are focusing on permanent hires to attract the strongest candidates.

The report also said that the slow growth in back-office roles is set to change pace over the coming quarter off the back of strong hiring levels for sales staff by the big four banks.

“This should feed into back-office operational roles by April this year,” it said. “Already at least two of the big banks have increased levels of temporary back-office staff.”

Furthermore, the low interest-rate environment is driving up demand for business bankers and relationship managers, business banking officers, branch lending managers, mobile lending managers, mobile lenders with their own referrer channels, SME business bankers and property finance professionals.

“Increased volumes of credit applications across the board, especially home loan applications, are driving up demand for credit analysts,” the report noted.

Hays said there is also a growing demand for bi-lingual candidates, “particularly those with English language skills and Mandarin, Cantonese or Vietnamese, as banks tap into these lucrative investment channels for overseas businesses”.